William Randolph, of Turkey Island, Progenitor of a Famous Family

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William Randolph, of Turkey Island, Progenitor of a Famous Family

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WILLIAM RANDOLPH, OF TURKEY ISLAND, •• PROGENITOR OF A FAMOUS FAMILY

1>Y lames Eldred Swartss

l i b r a r y

W iUl,am l l i a m& f *M°ai f

Mary

ProQuest Number: 10614694

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uest, ProQuest 10614694 Published by ProQuest LLC (2017). Copyright o f the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is p rotected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States C o d e Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 - 1346

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Table of Contents Page The Preface Chapter I*

The Colonial Setting ana Ancestry of William Randolph of Turkey Island ......

3

Chapter II.

The Public Life of William Randolph ....

13

Chapter III* The Private Life of William Randolph ...

34

Appendix ............................................

63

Bibliography .........................*... ...........

76

Vita

82

1

fixe .Preface Bight generations ago William Randolph cam© to Turkey Island and established the typical home from which came the illustrious Randolphs, Lees, Blands* John Mar­ shall* and Thomas Jefferson who hare played such outstand­ ing roles in Virginia and American history*. When Colonel Thomas Mann Randolph became gover­ nor of Virginia in December 1819* he was the fourth Ran­ dolph descendant of William Randolph* who settled at Tur­ key Island on the James River in 1674* to serve as chief executive of the state* It seems regrettable that the progenitor of the American family that has produced more notable men in their male line than any other family In our country should have been so largely neglected by the historian* An attempt has been made in this thesis to give as complete and interesting an account of the life and aehievements of William Randolph* the original settler at Turkey Island* as the material available to the author would permit* In some instances a key letter has been used in the footnotes to represent a reference*

Thus* Statutes at

Large by William Waller Hening is referred to as B*

Refer­

ences that have more than on© volume or series are preceded by the volume number and followed by the series number in

2

parentheses*

The page number is given last#

6W(l)34

means the sixth volume of The William s m w s a M i M m Quarterly Hiatorioal Magazine, first series, page thirtyfour* H.

Statutes at Barge by William Waller Hening.

*%* Trier *s Quarterly Hiatorioal and G-enealogical

W*

a& llilasg William and Mary College Quarterly Historical K

^

a

s

i

n

e

*













The author gratefully acknowledges his Indebtness and appreciation for the assistance and encourage­ ment of all those who have helped in any way to •mate this thesis*possible*' The subject of this thesis was suggested by By* Rlchara L* Morton* This thesis has been made pos­ sible through the inspiration, teaching, and kindness of By* Richard L* Morton, Br* Byomey 1* Hoke, Dr* Barnes 1* Fate, and By* George Armacost*

The author wishes to

thank the following for assistance in finding materials: the library staffs of the College of William and Mary and the Virginia State Library* and Mr* Clayton Torrence, Secretary of •"the Virginia Historical Society,. Richmond, Va*

The 'author is also indebted to Ruth Hornsby Swartz

for her constructive assistance and criticism*-

3

Chapter 1* The Colonial Setting attft Ancestry of William Randolph of Tarkey Island The Randolph name is not only famous in the annals of Virginia and American history hut historians have also been able to trace their lineage through noble lines in England back to the date of the battle of Has** tings In 1066# By the’time William Randolph landed in Virginia # society had begun to take on the character it retained during the Colonial period*

The life in the colony was

rural and agriculture was the chief industry* Within the colony the aristocratic tendencies of an older civil­ isation had merged with the new democratic spirit charac­ teristic of the frontier*

The plantation was the nucleus

of the social organisation whichf in the case of the larger plantations t often enabled its owner and his family to live in what approximated a private self-sustaining little king­ dom of their own*

The planter and his household had lit­

tle contact with their neighbors and the outside world since they produced abundantly all the necessities and many of the luxuries of life*

Such conditions were nat­

urally conducive to a somewhat aristocratic spirit*

Di­

recting the activities of inferiors on his plantation gave the landowner that feeling of mastery and independ-

4

ence wliich tends to develop in any self-sustaining and remote enterprise# Environmental factors strengthened by inherited traditions led the Colonial Virginians to set up a type of society and government in which practical rather than utopian ideals ruled*

Dissatisfaction with their position

in the English social and economic order* rather than dis­ approval of the system itself , had caused them to come to Virginia*

In the New World they were not only willing

hut anxious to set up a system similar to that which they had left in the hope of obtaining for themselves the more favored positions*

Naturally, the clergyman, the high of**

ficial, the large landowner, the small farmerand the la­ borer assumed the respective positions customarily as­ signed to them and set about to render the service and exercise the authority allotted to them#

Thus, traditions

of the Old World and local environmental .factors of the New World combined to establish a government under the in­ itiative and leadership of the great planters with re­ strained and limited supervision delegated to the masses of freemen* Since the cultivation of tobacco was the chief source of wealth and Influence in Virginia, each emigrant with capital to invest wanted to become a landowner*

The

continued successful production of tobacco required an enlargement of estates as rapidly as possible* Although, the returns per acre of tobacco were large, the price

5 ordinarily was low and much acreage was heeded to yield profits*

Besides; tobacco quickly exhausted the fertil­

ity of the soil and was constantly making it necessary for the planter to acquire new land in order to let the old lie fallow*

Consequently, despite the constant dan­

ger from Indians and ‘the high' cost of clearing the forest,,, Virginia was not settled as the founders ’had intended in urban eonmmities planned after the English borough but in sparsely separated plantation units extending along both banks of the lames Hirer* Carl 1* Becker points out that subsequent to 1649 the average size of patents obtained was about four hundred and fifty acres; between 1666 and 1679 the average had risen to approximately nine hundred, each patent con­ taining from ten to twenty thousand acres* By 1685, an area as large as all England was owned by a total populatlon no greater than that of Stepney parish in London*

1

Much -unskilled labor was needed to clear and till so large an area*

Thus, in Virginia, a high percent

of the total population was composed of a servile labor­ ing class, sharply distinct from yet existing side by side with the landowning planter class* lohn Bolfe, In reporting on the happenings in Virginia in 1619, wrote:

"About the last of August* came

lf ? o ® ^ * C* L* ggj&qnlnfla of the American People, pp.

6 $33i a dutch man of warfe that sold us twenty negars.tT The "man of warre" had taken them from a captured, slayer and evidently sold them to- the colonial government from which they were bought by private settlers#

The number

of Negroes imported continued to be small until the close of the century and the greater part' of the work in field and forest was done by white indentured sewants#

In 1671, Governor Berkeley in his report to the

C m to gave the population of Virginia as follows: nWe suppose# and I am very sure we do not much miscount^ that there is in TFirginia above forty thousand persons* men# women and children, and of which there1 'are two thousand black slaves, six thousand Christian servants, for a short time, the rest are born in the country or have come in to settle and 'seat, in bettering their condition in a growing country#"3 The servant became a freeman at the end of his term of service which varied from two to seven years* Some of these became renters or tenants on the planters1 estates while others became farmers or planters in their own right # .Among these servants* some were condemned criminals and political offenders, others were educated and cultured people who were victims of circumstances* The majority doubtless were people in straitened cirmrela and Works of Captain lobn«Smith edited by ward Arber, IT, 541* ' ' ' 3*

2H515.

7 cumstancesf who wanted to improve their condition, la ¥iyglpia*

These people were unfortunate rather than vicious* Toward the middle of the century* and accent***

ated by the coming of the Cavaliers from England during the Commonwealth period* there m s greater distinction between the small and the large landowner than there had been between the free and the unfree In the earlier period*

William Bandolph, as the master of a vast es­

tate* wielded a political and social influence and en­ joyed a certain leisure unknown to the average English freeman and his position in ¥ irginia was as much above the mass of planters as the titled nobility in England was ahove the gentry# Although social distinctions in the colony did exist* the lines wore so elastic and subject to such con­ stant change that rigid classification of any particular group is difficult*

In the colonial period the basis of

social distinction was economic, and wealth was the deter­ mining factor#

The same ability that enabled a planter

to acquire wealth* together with that economic prosperity once attained ©quipped him for a role of leadership in various phases of life#

The many political offices that

William Handolph held show how closely economic ,prosper- . ity and politics were tied up and how he became a lead


along is the site of Varina, where tradition has it that John Haifa took his Indian-bride* Bocahontas# to live* Varina was so called- from a superior tobacco called Varim which the tobacco in that section so closely resembled* It was located a little more than a mile below Butch 'Gap Canal* Henrico*

For a number of years it was the county seat of During the War between the States it was known

as Aiken*s landing and was a well known place for the ex­ change of prisoners* Here also was the glebe of j^enrlea Parish, where lames Blair, founder and first president of the College of William and Mary, and William Stith, an-

9* Wilstaoh, Paul*

Tidewater Virginia, p. 147.

IS

ther of its presidents and author of the History of 10 ginia. resided. A multiplicity of activities drew upon William Randolph*s tfans and energy*

He was one of the largest

and moat successful planters of Mlonial Virginia#

He

was a good provider and prudent head of a large family* Yet , he found time to serve the Crown, the Colony, and his fellowmen in a wide variety of public and private services*

10*

Tyler, Lyon & Cradle of the Republic: Jarnss^ torn and lames H l ^ r T p7gSir

15

Chapter U She Public. Life of Randolon flie first reference to William Bandolph in Virginia was made in 1673* Between that data and M e death in 1711 lie held one or more public offices*

He

served as Clerk of Henrico County* member of the House of Burgesses from Henrico County, Speaker of the House of Burgesses* Attorney^Genera1* Coroner* Sheriff* Bsobeator-Ceneral and Justice of the Peace*

He also

served in the county militia and finally attained the rank of Captain* The public life of William Randolph began when he was appointed clerk of Henrico County to sue* coed his uncle Henry upon the latter* s death in 1073* He continued to hold this office until 1683* In 1634* Henrico was organised into * county or ’’shire*** It included then the present day counties of Henrico* Goochland* Albemarle* Amherst* Campbell, Cumberland* Chesterfield* Buckingham* Fluvanna, and Nelson* This territory' then -lay on both sides of the lames River*- The eastern boundry of the county was formed by Turkey Island' Creek and Appomattox River* 1* Henrico Countv Court Records. 1710-17.14* P* 1* See this reference for his oath as clerk*

14

the northern by Chloahomlay Hirer, the southern by Ap­ pomattox Hirer# and the western was almost boundless. Heduotions in this territory did not occur until in 1727 when fthe upper part* of Henrico on both sides of £ the James River became a part of Goochland County* In the colonial period the office of county cleric was next in Importance to that of county lieu­ tenant . The cleric# who belonged to the local gentry# was a leading man in his county* As evidence of this# we find the names of Sir Marma&uke Beckwith# Peter Bev­ erley# William Stanard# Robert Bolling# William Fitshugh, Thomas lee# Benjamin Harrison, William HeIson, and Sir Guy Skipwith along with scores of men of similar 3 prominence who were clerks of their respective counties* The First legislative Assembly in Tirglnia was ■ =

*

due largely to the efforts of Sir Edmund Sandys, an in­ fluential member of the Company, who had the moral cour­ age and foresight to realise that Virginia needed a change in government more than a change in governors*

He real­

ized that there would be no peace and contentment In the Colony so long as the legal and administrative affairs were solely in the hands of a governor and council* £*

B4W(D 1S6*

3*

17WU) 197*

-t

In

1019# Governor George Yeardley was authorized to summon "two Burgesses from each plantation# freely to he elected by the inhabitants thereof" * In July of that year# two burgesses from each of eleven districts, with the Covernor and Council* met in the Church at Jamestown as the first legislative assembly In America*

Hue to hot weath­

er and sickness of the/members the session was short* This body enacted laws which were for the common good of the Colony* When the Company was dissolved in 1624, the Gov­ ernor and Connell were appointed by the Crown# but the members of the House of Burgesses continued to be elected. From the beginning* the House of Burgesses* composed of planters* was a beneficial Influence In passing practical laws I while on certain occasions* especially during the Commonwealth period# it dominated the affairs of the Colony. The Assembly was the means rather than the source of power* Great planters* like William Bandolph and Wil­ liam Byrd* as merchants* politicians* lawyers* country gentlemen*, and social leaders, exercised a dominant In­ fluence*

Their experience in law, their understanding of

conditions* their social prestige* their leisure time, 4* Andrews * Charles m _ The Colonial Period of American History; 1, ISO-life* ' .... "r ,r; ------ -

16 and the authority which custom assigned to their posi­ tions inclined the small planters to place confidence in their Judgment and to abide by their decisions*

It

m s hard to defeat them or their candidates for the As-* sembly and equally difficult for the elected burgesses not to comply with their wishes*

likewise, the great

planters were predominant in the council.

It was under­

stood by the home government that the governor would ral­ ly to his support the most wealthy and influential men of the Colony.

Consequently, membership in the House

of Burgesses or the Council was often combined with lo­ cal offices in the hands of the large landowners.

Thus,

the royal governors and successful planters built up muS tual interests through an exchange of favors* An order dated January 14th, 1679/80 was is­ sued by the Privy Cornell for Trad® and foreign Planta­ tions requiring the clerk of the assembly to send at the close of each session of the General Assembly a journal of the proceedings of the Assembly with copies of the laws, votes, orders and bills.

This was doubtless done be­

cause the Clerk of the House in 1677 refused to deliver the Journals of the House to the Commissioners sent over from Ragland during Bacon*s Rebellion*

It was probably

resented by the elected representatives of the people in Virginia but for the benefit of historical research it was one of the most salutary orders ever issued by the 5. Andrews, C. M* The Colonial Period of American Mimm* 2* 202-sot.

17

home goverument#

Since the original Journals of the

House and Couacii h a w been largely destroyed in Virgin* la* without this order the gaps in the Colonial- history would be as noticeable after 1680 as during the period6 before that date# William Randolph is first listed in 1684 as a burgess from Henrico*

At this time* the home govern-

meht haring become dissatisfied with lord Culpeper* who had spent the greater part of his time in England* had appointed'lord Howard of, Effingham as his successor* The burgesses soon discovered that he was an abler and firmer man than Culpeper and much more disposed to carry out the orders given him from England# He assumed charge of his government on April 15, 1684- and at the first aes* sion of the Assembly of that year he on several occasions reminded the burgesses of the importance of bringing the session to as speedy a close as possible to minimise ex* penses*

3*he burgesses knew that economy was not the sole

motive animating the -representative of the home govern- .. ment and resolutely proceeded to inquire into whatever matters seemed to need attention and to propose satis­ factory remedies for them.

Although the session lasted

only a little over a month* an examination of the Jour­ nal shows-that little time was wasted# Few bills were passed but several Important principles were established 6*

Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia. 1659/ 60-1893* pp. xlx*xxt*

18

and the prestige of the House was maintained# Xt was {luring the first session of the House of Burgesses after William Randolph had become a member of that

that a case arose which showed that the mem**

hers of the House resented haring a matter appealed to the Governor without their knowledge and consent*

John

West and Joseph Foster# members of the House from Hew Kent County* ted petitioned the House in behalf of them­ selves and others asking that they be rewarded for their services against the Indians during the past winter* fhalr petitions were rejected on the grounds that, being members of the militia, they had rendered only the serv­ ices expected of them* West and Foster had, without the knowledge and consent of the House, taken their case to

the Governor* The Governor sent a message to the House asking that their action in the matter be reconsidered in view of the fact that the services of these men were performed during the depths of winter at the command of the president of the Council*

*£he members of the House

resented this and boldly rebuked lord Howard for sending them, a message concerning -a resolution of the House th© 7 knowledge of whi&h had reached him privately* An interesting addition to the rules of the House, or "orders” as they were called- in those days, in the 1684 session was a rule requiring that whenever Jonrmla of the House of Burgesses* 1659/60-1693, pp* rlii—"^cllii* .

any member of the House addressed the speaker he was re­ quired to remain standing in one place without advancing forward until he had finished speaking* Violations of this rule carried with them a fine of twenty pounds of tobacco*

8

This was probably done to reduce the danger

of burgesses doming‘.to blows* * n /S j? !V f '

*

* * * * * u n fj»»|.».iy^

,mmvm

9

f

Ibld.P, 34; 1703/3-1705, 1705-1706, 1710-1712, p , xix»

9

SI

duced the penalty to whipping for the first offense and for the second the offender was forced to stand for two hoars in the pillory* with his ears nailed thereto* and 12

to have M s ears cat off at the end of that time* On May 1st (May day) 1699* the burgesses were the guests of the Governor at the College of V/111lam and Mary in Williamsburg*

In entertaining the members so

royally the Governor had in mind the choice of a loca­ tion for the new state house to be erected soon*

The

influence of the discussion on that day is doubtless seen in the ease with which a bill was passed to the effect that the state house should be built near the College and that what they termed a "city” should be laid out as 13 the capital of the Colony* The members of the House of Burgesses in Vir­ ginia, unlike the members of the House of Commons in England* received sufficient compensation to defray their expenses*

When the Assembly was first established and

for several decades thereafter very little wealth, as the word is commonly interpreted today, existed in Vir­ ginia*

In the colony as in the mother country, legis­

lative members were drawn from the upper social and 12*

3H102*

3-3* Ibid« pp* 419-432*

22

economic class* but since even the wealthiest Individuals were comparatively poor they were reluctant to perform a costly public function without compensation adequate to ewer their necessary expenses*

According to the sur­

viving records* there is mo evidence that the members of of the Assembly of 1619 were reimbursed for their ex­ penses*

In 1636, the assembly passed an act requiring

the inhabitants of each county to bear the expenses In­ curred by their burgesses*

This act was intended to re­

pay their actual expenses rather than to compensate them 14 for their services as legislators* In 1684* William Ban&olph was allowed fiftythree hundred pounds of tobacco for his expenses as a burgess*

The following year he was allowed about sixty-

one hundred pounds*

These sums- included expenses in­

curred by the representatives for' boats and rowers* fer15 ryage and pasturage for their horses* Being a burgess carried, with the position cer­ tain special privileges* Virginia, in 1623, inauguated specific principles of protection for her legislators.* That is, a Virginia burgess was exempt from arrest by 14* Bruce* F* A* II* 435-436*

Institutional History of Virginia

15* Bsnrlgo County Records. 1677-1692, Original pp* 288* 340*

23

order of a creditor* not only during the sessions of the assembly but also for a week before it convened and a week after it adjourned*

The purpose of this regulation, was to

guarantee to the representatives In the legislature per­ fect freedom, in' going to and from Jamestown*

If the cred­

itor of a burgess failed to abide by this ruling* the debt was forfeited and the sheriff who served the war­ rant became liable to punishment*

Public service was the

burgess1 first duty and anyone who interfered with him in its performance was injuring the public welfare* 16 law was reenacted In 1631*

This

So much aacredness and dignity went with the of­ fice of burgess that It was considered as grave an of­ fence to speak scandalously or disrespectfully about a ‘Vf Burgess as about the Governor or a Councilman* The speaker was the most important officer- of. the Bouse of Burgesses*

It was customary for the Bur­

gesses to assemble* and as a body* to wait on the Gov­ ernor for his permission to choose a speaker*

Then*

they would return to their chamber to choose that officer* When this was done* a committee was chosen to inform the the'Governor of their choice and again wait on Mi* this time with the newly-elected Speaker at their head*

In

16* XH125* XV*

Bruce* F* A*

Ii^itutlonql History of Virginia. XX*448*

24

1698» and again in 1705* William Ban&olph was chosen for 18 this important office * in some instances it was difficult for the Bur­ gesses to elect a Speaker*

in 1699 f after seireral days

of unsuccessful attempts to choose a Speaker* Governor Wicholson impatiently ordered the Burgesses to remain in their chamber until they had selected their presiding of­ ficer because eirery hour that they delayed this routine of “business meant added expenses upon the taxpayers* They promptly replied that there was a tie between two candi­ dates* who hat each received twenty rotes* and that the arrival of late Burgesses m m necessary to decide the 19 contest*. 'This incident demonstrated that strict -rules were necessary to secure the prompt attendance of members at the opening of session*, William Banaolph#s speech of acceptance as Speaker of the House of Burgesses in 1698 closely followed the pattern set by English custom and differs little from so the speeches on similar occasions today* 18*

Calendar of State Pacers, 1697-1698* p* 485 f 1704* P*

19* Bruce* 470-471*

Institutional History s £ x m m & » xx,

20. Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia. 1695' ,n:699 , ^ b v - i W g7Triga*

25

In 1099, William Randolph became Clerk of the House of Burgesses * He continued to act in that capacity fram 1699 to 1701 and again in 1702*

On March 19tht

1702-3, a letter was read before the Council from Wil­ liam Randolph, who being elected a Burgess for Henrico

Si

County, desired to be released from the office of Clerk* in 1096, William Randolph was recommended by Sir Bdmund Andros to fill a vacancy In the Council*

hike-

wise, in 1099, and 1703 f his name was included in the list of those submitted by Governor Nicholson to be mem22

bers of the Council* The Clerk and the Attorney-General were the principal officers of the General Court* The AttorneyGeneral was the legal adviser of the Governor and Coun­ cil and the prim public prosecutor for the Crown in the Colony*

The regular salary was not large*

In 1687,

was fixed at twenty pounds sterling which was supple­ mented by lucrative fees* 21*

Calendar Qf State Papers . 1699, p* 179? 1702, p* “ “ 2-1703, pp* 278™ 2®* go m e M SMEBaaMa* i89e-ie«e, 1697—1698, 1700—1702, p» 131* Legislative Journals of the Council of Colonial yiraint'a. 1 . %65 .

22.

Tour years later the salary

~

Calendar of State Papera. 1693-1696, p. 131: 1699, p. 316; 1708-1709, p. lS3.

26

was doublet and in 169? It was one bundled pounds*

This

increase was made because of the large number of criminal 23 cases which required bis professional attention* Th® seventeenth century Attorneys-General were men of considerable distinction exclusive of the honor and influence which were connected with their office*

In

April 1694* William Bandolph was appointed Attorney-Gen­ eral* at an annual salary of forty pounds* in the place of Edward Chilton who had gone to England*

Despite a

fight against his holding the office due to his scant knowledge of law* he continued to do so until 1698* when his resignation was accepted#

In 1697* he represented

the interests of the Crown in several indictments for 84 violations of the Navigation Acts* ITilliam Bandolph established the tradition that the interests of the King In Virginia could best be served in this office by a Bandolph since this position was subsequently held by his 25 son* Sir Iota* and his grandsons* Peyton and Iota* His great grandson, Edmund was the first Attorney-General 83* Bruce* P* 4* 687*

Institutional History of Virginia» 1*

24#

Ibid» p. 689.

25.

Calendar of State Papers. 1693-1696* p. 282; 16961697* p* 83* 93, 98-W."' Executive Journals of the Council of Colonial Vir­ ginia, t j s ------------------

27

of the Commonwealth of 'Virginia ana of the United States# in October 1698, when the state house was burned Governor Andros hastily summoned William Bandolph and others to the Council Chamber to decide what should be done with the public records that had been thrown in heaps from the burning' building#

It was .suspected that

the building was purposely set on fire*

William Ban**

dolph who was Attorney-General at the time, made an in**' vestigatlon*

He reported that Arthur Jarvis was suspected

but there was not sufficient evidence to proceed against 26 him* During the seventeenth century' the county re­ cords contain examples of Hegro attempts to cause insur27 factions among slaves* In 16*94, William Bandolph, as Attorney-General, delivered to the sheriffs of their re­ spective counties a proclamation issued by Governor Andros concerning Wegroes*

The purpose cf this order was to re­

strict the activities of Wegroes to lessen the danger of 28 armed Insurrection* In. the seventeenth century im Virginia, the mi-

27* Bruce, P* A* 628* 28#

Institutional History pf Virginia. I,

Executive Journals immm of the mmm* Council of ^Colonial m\mmmwmrnmr mm** .■OT»iiiiiiijtf»pimi»'*JiW- Vir—

28

lltia was the basis of the military system#

In 1680* in

Henrico County, the militia* consisting of foot* were com­ manded by a colonel* a lieutenant-colonel* a major* and a captain*

At that time William Bandolph -was a captain*. By

3une of 1699* he had been elevated to the rank of lieuten29 ant-colonei of his county militia* The extreme scarcity of arms In Henrico is shown in connection with a vacancy in the troop of horse made tfby ye departure of Mr# William Glover’*.» Hie place could not he filled at once because no one could be found who owned the requisite, sword* pistols* and carbine*

It seems

probable that this vacancy was caused by Glover* s death since reference is made to the "division of his estate"* However* he may only have left the country a debtor* When William Bandolph, captain of the troop* notified the county court of the difficulty* the justices asked that the one who had possession of Glover9s anas sell them to

30

someone who was willing to fill his place In the cavalry* The Act for Forts* in 1691* provided for the e~ reetlon of a number of towns and the selection of several additional places for buying and selling goods• Bermuda 29.

Calendar of State Papers. 1697-1698, p, 267. Crozier, v77 A. Virginia Colonial Militia. 165117?6# pp* 103* 105*............ ^TT' " BxQcuti-ye Journals of the Council of Colonial Virginia, I, p. 443. ' : ----------

30. Henrioo County Minute Book, 1682-1701, p. 236,

29

Hundred,in, Henrioo County -was one of the points chosen* William Bandolph and Francis Bppes were the feoffees* The • ' 31 land was purchased for twelve thousand pounds of tobacco. During the early part of the Colony’s history, no office was considered too petty to he accepted by men of marked social distinction and valuable estates*

Perhaps

one -explanation of this was that several of these offices were often held by one man*

At no time did there seem to

be any objection to combining the office of constable, cor­ oner, and justice of the peace with other more important positions*

In 1702, William Bandolph was coroner, escheator* 32 general and justice of the peace* The office of Coroner was filled by the most con­

spicuous citizens in their communities*

As a rule the Gov­

ernor mad© the appointments from the list of members of the County Courts*

In 1686, William Bandolph took the oath as

duty of holding inquests in the cases of suspicious deaths, the coroner had other services to -perform*

In 1690, William

Bandolph was ordered by the County Court to sell at public Henrico County Records. 1688-1697, p* 236* 58b Flippin, P* S* The Royal Government in Virginia. p* 357*. 33*

Henrico County Records. 177-1698, Original p* 383* This reference, gives his oath as'coroner*

30

auction all of the property belonging to John Johnson, who had supposedly met with a violent death#

Apparently

Johnson had no friends or relatives residing in Henrioo 34 County* On April 28th, 1708, William Randolph was appointed sheriff in Henrioo County and on April 26th* of the following year* he m s reappointed to the same position*

On January 8th, 1710* the Henrico County Court

ordered the following! "That the sheriff of this County do Re** eeive for ©very Tythable person in this Coun­ ty thirty one pounds of Tobacco.*, it being the County Levy and in case of the same Distress, and also that he mice payment of the several sums afore-mentioned to the-several persons for whom the same is l e v y e d o I , S 5 William Randolph served as justice of the peace from 1688 to 1711* and was justice of the Court of Chan­ cery in Henrico County* Colonial justices were eager to uphold the dig­ nity of the court* An instance of this is shown in the case of Hatcher versus Holmes in Henrico County in Septem­ ber 1684*

It was suspected that the hogshead used by Ben­

jamin Hatcher in selling tobacco did not comply with legal regulations*

Thomas Holmes* an over zealous grand juror

in the case*, had gone to Hatcher’s tobacco house in the 34* Henrico County Records* 1682-1701* p* 288. 36*

Henrico County Court Records, 1710-1714 *p* 39*

31

owner* a absence and measured his hogshead*

His rudeness

in breaking into the tobacco house with a tobacco stick brightened Hatcher*s family * Hatcher charged Holmes with unlawfully entering his premises "to the great disturbance and affrigtah" of his wife and children# Wpon being ar­ rested and brought before Justice William Randolph, Holmes arrogantly t o M the magistrates

"You may do your worst*

I will hare my humour," and followed this up by "putting on his hat* cocking It up* sitting down* and beginning to sing*"

The Court ruled that such behavior "would be to ye

great abuse and' dishonour of all authority" if such con­ duct passes unpunished* Holmes was fined twelve him36 dred pounds of tobacco* la addition to his other public duties* in June 1699* William Randolph was appointed KscheatorGeneral on the south side of the James* where there were a greater number of desirable tracts of land not taken up than on the north side* According, to "A list of the quantity of acres of land* l%mber of Tlthabl©s& Civil! officers in the several! Counties of this her Majesties Colony and Dominion of Vir­ ginia this 6th day of July 1902 9f1 William Randolph was Bsoheator-General for these counties with tithables and 36*

Bruce*, P* A* 4BB# Scott* A* B* 68*

Institutional History of Virginia* 1* Criminal law ..Ip Colonial Virginia * p*

32

acreage as follows:

37 Aoagqfl _ofg land

mmrnmm Charles City Henrico Isle of ®i$rts Hansemond Norfolk 'y

I*., inim*mwis.

109*901 140*050 130*490 130*500 110*534 97*891 108*483

1*387 &m sm 1*030 mn

j?l

f

sawjr

f

i

?

m

Following the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685 more than three hundred thousand Huguenots left France to escape persecution*

Three regiments* each

numbering seven hundred and fifty men* .joined William of Orange’s array of eleven thousand men to invade England and obtain his Crown*

To show his gratitude for their of-

festive support and to express his sympathy for their suf­ fering brethren Who were driven from their native land on account of their religion, the King invited them to m k e their horns in his new colonies* Estimates of the number of those French refugees who settled in Virginia vary*

Robert Beverley* in his

Ms^sgs: at 2&gg*£ia (edition 1722i* estimated that seven hundred came to Virginia by 1700.

In this connection the

following entry dated Kerch 10th, 1700 la found* “His Excellency and the Hon’ble Coun­ cil do reeonsnend to It .-Colonel William Randolph and Captain Giles Webb* from time

37.

17384—371* M ^ cS0®S§tfi9“Ji® Bseheator-General in 1699 and a state­ mentorthe duties connected with that office are given in this reference*

S3

to time,*. to make enquiry into the state and condition of the ffrench Refugees Inhabiting at the Manakin Towns and parts adjacent, and communicate the same to his Excellency, and almyes to Exhort the aforesaid french Bef*» ogees to lire in unity, peace and concord. Thus, it is evident from the many public posi­ tions held by William Bandolph from his coming to Virgin­ ia about 1673 until his death in 1711 that his life was closely interwoven, with the social, political and eenomic history of Virginia*

38.

1701, p. 119* lished, Relating to the Huguenot Emigration to Virginia and to the Settle* ment of Manakin-Town*:1* in Virginia Historical Col* \* V, v-viil, 38. «*

„ . .

my

*

*

*

mmmtmmm*' **"***n m m m . w

m n iMfm n w

54

Chapter III The ■ihrivata Life o; • 1 HjaSoaia. In the seventeenth century the economic sys­ tem of Virginia was based' on tobacco*

It has been said

that the story of Virginia is the story of tobacco*

It

seemed almost prophetic that before- the settlement at Jamestown the Indians revered the plant*

They consider­

ed It a special gift from the Great Spirit which had remarkable powers for performing good*

When drought parch*

ed their maize the Indians powdered tobacco leaves and scattered them to the wind to bring rain- when their fish catch was small they cast tobacco on the water to make the fish more numerous*. Smoking was their token of friendship .and peace and the white man who failed to smoke the proffered peace pipe Incurred their hostility* John Bolfe* who was himself fond of smoking* noticed that the Virginia variety of tobacco though weak In fla­ vor was biting to the tongue*

He began experimenting to

produce a .variety that could compete on the market with the superior West Indian tobacco#

In this he was suc­

cessful for by 1614 he had developed a product thatKalph Hamor characterized as "strong* sweet and pleasant as any under the sun"*

Conditions in Virginia were es­

pecially favorable for the production of tobacco and

m

mm m the Oolo&ists eeali 0053—

# mmm** m

mm

who were

secure froas, the ware fuMamental to the

of imd turned

tobaccof a

1 ware

a I

no more harmful

that

lata- as XSSI Wm- use of' was nan m i l

i*t

***

In

Virginia Colony

was un­ m s larsalF

til® eomplets

to produce

terialsi it was instrumental spa

of the

raw wm«

the system of labor, and even influenced religion and morals* William Bandolph was not only a producer but also a dealer in tobacco*

In 1687, while he was jus­

tice of the peace in Henrico County, John Pleasants was brought before the court as defendant in a suit involv­ ing an allowance for cask in a payment in tobacco* Dur­ ing the trial William Bandolph arose, from M s seat and, referring to himself as a "considerable dealer in the tobacco trade*1, refused to give an opinion since he fear— 1 ed It might subject him to the "censure of partiality** * The three essentials for the production of tobacco were land, capital, and labor#

Through headright and other

means William Bandolph was able to acquire extensive are­ as of land* Through his public services, industry and good management he was able to accumulate the necessary capital*

He used both Negro and Indian labor to culti­

vate his vast estate* One important way of acquiring land in Virgin­ ia during the seventeenth century was by what was called the headright system*

This system was approved by the

home government but resulted in much abuse and evasion* The government obligated itself to grant fifty acres of land to anyone who would pay the passage from Burope to Virginia of a new settler#

Sometimes false statements

3-* Henrico Countv Minute Book. 1682-1701* p* 189*

37

wars made- about importations and ship masters cooperated in order to secure land for the planters on the basis of persons who did not actually com© to the Colony* headright was not restricted to servants*

The

If a freeman

paid for his own transportation, he was likewise enti­ tled to the fifty acres*

If he brought his family along

he could demand fifty acres for each member of his house­ hold*

In October, 1609, William Randolph-1© name headed

the list of thirty-six persons for whom he was granted one thousand eight hundred acres of land in payment of 8 their transportation to Virginia* The land Patent Records show that William Ran­ dolph secured by headrights the following patents:

on

October 1st, 1674, five hundred ninety-one acres, two roods and twenty poles for the transportation of twelve persons; * on April 1st, 1680, with Frances Eppes and Joseph Royall, each to own one third of five hundred eighty acres for the transportation of twelve persons; on November 80th, 1688, with Robert Bolling, six hundred twenty-three acres for the transportation of thirteen persons; on April 81st, 1691, four hundred acres for the transportation of eight persons; 9

on April 81st, 1695, one thousand two hundred twenty-one acres for the transportation of twenty-five persons; on 2* Henrico County Records> 1677-1692, p*

15 0-

38

on October 85th, 1695 , two thousand nine hundred twentysix acres for the transportation of fifty-nine persons; on October 16th, 1696, two thousand nine hundred twentysix acres for the transportation of fifty-nine persons (since this grant bears the same description as the pro­ ceeding one it is probably a renewal of the same grant); on August Both, 169?, fire hundred fifty acres, for the transportation of eleven persons; and on October 26th, 1699, two thousand nine* hundred twenty-six acres, for transporting fifty nine persons (this also bears the 3 same description as two proceeding ones)# He thus ac­ quired during the period between 1674 and 1700 more than six thousand one hundred ninety acres, of land by the headright system# In issuing- a grant for land on the basis of headrights, the government required the planter to record with the clerk- of the county court the names of all persons for whose transportation his claim of fifty acres each was based#

The names of many of these Immigrants

also appear in the land Grant Records • On October 9th, 1689, William Randolph, in securing a grant of one thou­ sand eight hundred acres of land, certified to the fol-

3# Henrioo County Records* 1682-1701, p# 163. ^ n d l^tent BooksTl^o^ 6, p. 534; Ho# 7, pp# 24, 199: HoTs, PP# 1 ?Y,~ 408; Ho# 9, pp. 2, 71, 221#

lowing names:

William Randolph, George Lynn, William

Dodd* Mary Lynn, Katherine tethers, Mary Madden, Allan** son Clark, Charles Rumbald f Winifred Conner, Jane Sawkins, John Sawkins, Bartholomew Fowler, V7illiam Oak© and twentythree Negroes, vlzt: Will, Tom, Tony, Eastham*. Andy, Tamoh, Davy, Seiplo, Haxmlball, Toby, Sambo, Symbo, Tom** hoy,;'ted, Tawnoy, Jack,'Maria, Jupiter , Hector, Hero, Pompey, Mingo, and Georg©#. Base of the people listed_as headrights afterwards rose to positions of prominence in the Colony*

One included In William Randolph's list of

headright© was Bartholomew Fowler, who later became a member of the Henrico bar and Attorney-GeneraI of the Col4 ony* The practice of allowing a planter three years in which to seat land granted him is shown by the fol­ lowing entry on March 5th, 1675/6 by Henry Hartwell, clerk of the Council in his minutes.; "William Bandolph hath three yeares Liberty Granted him from the date hereof for the seatelng of his land which is upon Swift Creek© being ffrontier PlantaconrrD As late as 1697, the Secretary of the Colony made lavish disposals of land rights charging one to five shillings for each* When a planter wished to enlarge his

4* Henrico County Records» 1682-1701, p* S15* S# Minutes of the Council and General Court of Colonial P;*

plantation by only a few acres the transportation of persons from Bnglamd was too expensive so the practice gradually developed of securing a patent by

a fee to the See-

rotary of the Colony,, who made the grant legal by affixing the seal of the Colony thereto# Although this practice rest­ ed on no legal footing* the need for an easier and less ex­ pensive method of acquiring land established it by custom. By the first of the eighteenth century the custom m s legal ly established and the Secretary*© fee was definitely fixed 6 at five shillings* This established custom of the pay­ ment of a fee encouraged large landowners to acquire vast estates.

The wealthy planter was often allotted more land

than was rightfully due him* This came about through the carelessness and negligence of surveyor©*, who failed to mate accurate and complete surveys. Since the granting of patents to land rested largely in the hands of the Governor and:Council it was difficult to prevent a monopoly on grants by them because the Councillors and the Governor were usual­ ly large land owners.

Governor Spot©wood fs estate contain­

ed eighty-six thousand acres and Councillor Byrd owned a hundred seventy-nine thousand four hundred and forty acres y of the richest land in Virginia. 6.

3H30S*

7* Flippin* P.*. S* 316*

The Royal Government

41 Sometimes planters fomad partnerships or as­ sociations tor the importation of servants*

On April

ZQtfx# 1680* William Bandolph, Francis Eppes and Joe Boyall were granted five hundred eighty acres of land on the south side of the lames Hirer for transporting twelve per­ sons into the Colony.

On November 20th, 1682, William

Randolph and Robert Bolling were granted six hundred twenty-three acres of Roughneck Swamp on the south side of Appomattox River in Charles City County for transport8 ing thirteen persons into the Colony* William Randolph acquired one tract of land by escheat * In 1700, Auditor William Byrd reported to His Excellency and the Council that he had sold to Colonel William Randolph,, of Henrico* Two tracts of land in the County of Henrico known as "Curies" and. "Slashes",for ■one hundred and fifty pounds sterling.., which was paid*. The Auditor ordered a patent to he prepared assigning their Magestles* rights unto the said Randolph and his 9 heirs and assigns forever. This land was the confis­ cated property of Nathaniel Bacon* The following additions to William Randolphs estate were made by purchase: 8*

on February 18th, 1679,

Band Patent Book. No* 7, pp* 24, 199,

9. Executive Journals of the Council of Colonial Vir­ ginia. V o l T T T 7 ~ 7l.-------- - — — -- ---land Patent Book. No. 9, pp. 270-271.

42

from Samuel Woodward,. one hundred fifty acres, being a part of Turkey Island,, formerly owned by Sarali Studiyant; on August 24th, 1684, from Giles Carter and wife, heirs of lames Crews, sixty acres, a part of Turkey Island, for twenty pounds sterling! on April 1st, 1685, from William Whittingham and wife and Matthew Crews,, of London, heirs of lames Crews deceased, fir© hundred acres, called "Tur­ key Island Plantaeon", "for three acres and fifteen pounds of lawful money of England"; on June 1st, 1689, from Thomas Cocke, Sr., six hundred twenty-fire acres on Chickahominy Creek; on April 24th, 1691, from John Grundy, of Gloucester County, one-third part of the on© thousand acres on Turkey Island, for thirty pounds sterling; on September 28th, 1691, from. Samuel Hhibb, three hundred, acres on the south side of Chickahominy Swamp, for thirty-six hundred pounds of tobacco * on October 7th, 1700, from John Morton, two hundred acres in Henrico County on the south side of Chickahominy Swamp, for two thousand pounds of tobacco; on Jan­ uary 16th, 1704, from Samuel Woodward, "one half of one third" part of a tract of land containing one thousand 10

acres on Turkey Island, for fifty pounds sterling. Henry Xsham, of Henrico County, in his will, pro­ bated February 1st, 1678/9, after willing some of his pos10.

Henrico County Records. 1677-1692, pp. 124, 502 , 505; 1688-97, pp. 50, 205, 240, 245; 1697-1704, pp. 192, 451.

43

sessions to others left M s plantation in Charles City County commonly known as "Doggams” to be equally divided between his two sisters* Mrs*. Mary Bandolph and Mrs* Anne Islam and the "rest of M s estate both in Virginia, Eng­ land and elsewhere to Mr* William Bandolph” , whom he named as M s executor.

11

Richard Dearlove, In his will

dated July 24th, 1703, probated February 1st 1702/3, left John Cocke a life right to two hundred twenty-three acres of land on the south side of the lames River and directed that at Iohn Cockefs death it should become the property of William Bandolph#

This Is the tract William Bandolph 12

sold to William Byrd I, by deed dated June 1st, 1707* Thus, through headright, grant, escheat, pur­ chase, and legacy William Randolph secured a vast estate. In 1705, he owned ten thousand five hundred fourteen acres of land in Henrico Bounty and two hundred twentysix acres in Prince George County*

The quit-rent rolls

of 1704 show that In Henrico County the one hundred sixtytwo plantations had eight hundred sixty-three titbabies. In that county William Randolph was the third largest landowner, being surpassed only by William Byrd I and 13 John Pleasants* 11. Henrioo County Records. 1877-1692, pp. 71-72* 12.

Ibid. 1697-1704, p. 368; 1706-1704, pp* 37-38.

13. Wertenbaker, T* J. The Planters of Colonial Vir­ ginia. pp. 57-58*

The records show that William Randolph sold two tracts of land and deeded several tracts to M s sons. On April 1st, 1676, he sold to William Robins five hun­ dred ninety-on© acres, two roods, and twenty poles, in consideration of four thousand pounds of tobacco*

On

June 1st , 1707, he sold to William Byrd 1, two hundred twenty-three acres on the south side of the James River, in consideration of seventeen pounds currency.

This was

the tract that was given M m by the last will and testameat of Richard Dearlove*

On February 1st, 1702, ha

deeded six hundred twenty-two acres by estimation, to M s son, William Jr., "for ami in eonsi&eraeon of the Baturall love and affection”. On January 31st, 1704, he made another deed of gift to William Jr., for four hun­ dred and seventeen acres, part of Turkey Island.

On Oc­

tober 30th, 1706, he again made a deed of gift to M e son William, for one hundred sixty-seven acres, tract lately purchased from Samuel Woodward« On November 1st, 1706, he made a deed of gift to his son, Henry, for the "tract of Curies lately belonging to Wathaniel Bacon lsqr< 14 Deced.” It is evident that William Randolph used slave labor, for on October 9th, 1669, M s list of headrigbts 14. Henrico County Records, 1677-1692, p* 37; 1697-1704, mTWIi^SSS% pp. 3, 37-38*

included the names of thirteen Negroes some of whom were mentioned in M s will over twenty years later. In 1695* .\ 3®.e h© imported twenty-five more Negro •slaves.*.. ’

.



.

'

*



.



.



as weH as' on M s plantation* Special covenants were re­ own a *om the Governor, and ted to give for all injuries or damages he might inflict*

In the contracts

the planter a clause was inserted squiring that the c M M be instructed in the Christian religion* The con* tract was sworn, to before two justices of the

in

order to prevent any possibility of fraud* The Indian servants were chiefly children because the adults of that race were more difficult to orn­

ate less likely to bert

'was

up to his obligation to work ate he could not be to remain .In bondage longer than the legal period. Fur* thermore, the master m s obligate to furnish the Indian with sufficient food, ate proper clothing ate shelter*

15*

Ibid* 1682-1701, p* Wertenbaker, T. J* The -££b 3&* p* 130*

Randolph furnished on© of M s Inilan servants with one cotton ana m © leather waistcoat* on© pair of leather

16 breeches* one pair of stocking© and on© pair of ©hoes* William Randolph fs relation© with M s neighbors resembled soisowtot that of a lord of a manor*- H© was frequently called upon to settle affairs for Ills neigh* hors both as a legal advisor and as a friend during' their life time and after their death* Member© of the Byrd* Coeke* and Eppes families seem to have been M s closest friends* From time to time* William Bandolph was ©ailed upon to go security for hi© friend©*

In luno 1688f when

William Byrd was appointed Auditor of Virginia* Captain William Randolph ^ Colonel lohn Custis* ant Captain Peter 17 Ferry became his bondsmen* In May 1691 f when Edward Bill was appointed ’‘treasurer of their Mas* Revenue of his Country arising by Vertue of an Imposicon Liquors Skins & ftmmnL William Bandolph and Henry Whiting were IS nominated to go security for him# William Bandolph was at the home of Francis Bppes a few days before his death and heard Colonel Eppes

I&*

Henrico Countv Records. 1077-4B99* p.* 1&4*

brother would seat one of his boys at the tract at Cau~ sons and that Eanetones would serve one of,the boys* Colonel Bppes died from a severe wound without liaising: a will* William Randolph was called upon on December 2nd, 10f8t at a court held at Carina, the county seat of Henrico, to testify what disposition ha had heard Colonel Bppea say 19 he wished to be mads of his estate* William Randolph’s own account of the death of William Byrd shows, the close friendship which existed fee** tween two of the Colony’s most illustrious seventeenth

of Virginia cam© to my House & told m that Colo* Byrd was dying & that it was fe&red he would not. live till 1 got there, upon which I feeing then ill of'the Clout durst not ven­ ture os Hors©back but for the more Expedition I took my Boat & four Hands & came down fey Water to M s House at Westover & found him to Bed but somewhat better, I staid with him* and about fen or Eleven m Clock at Wight I went to Bed & when 1 took my leave of him that Bight he told me he hoped in the morn­ ing he should fee better to settle M s Busi­ ness, or words to that Effect, ‘That about on© or fwo a Clock to the Morning Mrs* Bar­ rett .came and told me that Colo* Byrd was a dying* Upon which 1 arose ^ went to him, & when I came I asked hto how he did; he answered that he was- -very easy & -if .he •

48

could have a little sleep ha hoped lie should bo bettor or to that purpose 1 asked M m idsohher be has.made any Will he answered that he made one ‘Two. or $hree. Tears ago or to that Bffeet and can quickly make alters ations in it* So I said nothing further to him Tor some time,*, in hopes'of his talcing sots rest* but perceiying that be did not Sleep* I loll him Sir you are Tory week % yet irery sensible I be1lew it would be well if you did bow settle Tour business according to Tour desire or sops- such Words*, upon which he said it was strange he should be so weak in so short a time* so finding M m rery ill I let him alone & ha -asked a w * oral times what time of the Night it was & when It would be day* and When it was day he- got up & sat in his ‘Chair & afterwards bid Mrs* Garret take the ley of M s Closet & bring M m a paper which She did & gay© it into M s Hands & them he delivered the said paper to me, & bid me look upon it & asked me the .Hats' of it*.'and 1 opentd it & said to him Sir is this your Will* or this is your Will {to the best of my remembrance) and he answered Tas* & told M m it was dated the 8th of July 1700* After which he laid down on the Bed again & whan, ha m s laid, down he bid me writs on the Will what Is now endorsed on it being M s legacy to Mrs. Garret (igy wife & Mrs. Barrett being then gone out of the Boom! which I did & when X had done I went to his Bedside & told M m * them he M d his man Maramb go out of the Boom & read the Endorsement to him which h© approved & I t o M him 1 thought he should Sign it * & he said he would get up upon which X step! to the Door to call his Ifeh 3$&r©t & as X came back X found him sitting upon his Bedside & sooing that I rah hastily again & called Marant who came In with Mrs. Xarret who ran to help- him to the- ‘ Chair (I being then lame of the Gout & mot able to Assist Mm) but , before they could well set him In M e Chair he died* And according to my Apprehension I found Colo* Byrd all along till his Death in sound Judgment Sense & Memory*”^ so. l ib r a r y

College of William & Mary

m

M m Mil* aated Suly

William BaMolph

1700

h i t o

light by the recent publication or

Clarr ^

og Weatever. X7C9-XR* William

B y r d % entries Show that the mBBfafaam of tte= Byrd ami Ram«*

dolpli .households frequently exchanged .visits* transacted business together* discussed public &ffairs: , Joined in such games as Milters ant cricket and felt equally free to

to one another*- for- small favors or in times of

BS

trouble*

Through the- pages of William Byr§% diary we can trace the inroads whieh gout made on Wiliam Han&oXpMs health* Wiliam Byrd recorded that xm December 20th, 1709 Colonel Randolph "had the gout in his hand* ; on January 31s&# that William Randolph nbad the, gout severely" | on May BBud* 1710 that William Randolph "had the gout in M s stomach* for which X sent M m some b-v~r mineral? on May S7tht 1710 that he "wenb shout 11 oreloe$c to Colonel Ran** ,dolpt*% to visit M m because he was sink, and X found him ■better than he had been*11 on. Xune I9th# X710 that William Randolph m m "Just recovered of a dangerous sickness1*! on April 4th* 1711 that Colonel Randolph "was very : sioSf*§ on -April Sth* 1711 that Mr* Bland same and told him that Wil­ liam Randolph "was extremely sick and in great danger" and finally- on. April Blst* 1711 that "Colonel Randolph -died t M s evening' shout 6 o’clock"*

51

Itm% two p r a ■&fter William Randolph settled at ‘ Tttrtey Island Bacon*® Rebellion occurred* Young J&thas&el Baoott came to Yiygtnla. In 1670 ? ana with the alt of M s cousin* Nathaniel Bacoit 3r*f purchased Curies Hack plan** tatioa from Colonel Thom® Ballard.

This .plantation was

on the north aM e of the femes Elver near the plane that m s soon to to the estate of the Randolphs* At this time# there m s much oGmg&a&it in Benrico- about the tor price of tobacco*

the oMef topics of conversation with M i new

COLLEGE O/-IVILLfAM £MAR?

friends were the low prices of crops.* the scarcity ant ex>orbibant prices of imported goods, and their poverty and oppression by the small group of wealthy soon. The poor farmers saw the rich planters selling their crops and ex> tending their lent hoMingg while their m m small plants** tions were being threatened with foreclosures.

Bacon was

deeply impressed with the Injustice ant suffering of the 24 poor planters* Bathanlel Bacon* a young man of tn^nty-eight* without riches or political experience* was* within a year after M s ^arrival ..in Virginia* selected by Governor Berk©ley for the Council* Beaver* Bacon never approved of Gov­ ernor Bertel^^s- overbearing demeanor -and his oppression •of poor people*

Instead* the cause off the oppressed an-

24* Wertenbaker* T* fe Torclibearer of the Revolution* pp. 5Q~$0*

58

this time the Indians w m m S0371?**'

mm

Ifethamlal B*

n

#

fM M

t o o

slala,

& stop of tobaooo too

in

many of iiia s - , U **

in the more

a settled net w g at' this point that

and to oixoose Bacon as ng to tl the Ocnreraor is shcmi By the list of M s SOTeBteenth eentory Iflrgteisns attempted to bring

60-99.

f:*

3

aibout an improvement in morals by imposing heavy penalties for petty Infractions of their moral code*

In Henrico

County during that century there were probably more minor violations or tbe moral code than in any other county in Virginia*

Who explanation or this doubtless lies in the

tact that it was relatively thickly settled and was situ-* m sted on the frontier* there was a definite attempt on the part of the authorities in Virginia to repress the evil-of swearing* As early as 1619, an act was passed providing for a fine of five shillings for a freeman or the head of a family* who after being warmed three times* was found guilty of swearing*

If the guilty person were a servant* h@ was

severely flogged unless his master agreed to pay his fine which was the same mm a freeman*© for a like offense* these fines were turned aver to the pariah churches * The law in 1031 imposed a fine of one shilling for every oath a person uttered*

According to the Act of 1657-8 a person who was

convicted on three separate occasions for- swearing was de­ clared ineligible to hold a public office*

If the guilty

party happened to be a servant or a minor* unless his master or parents paid his fine* his punishment was left to the &is~ 28

In 1674-5 a soldier who persisted lit swearing after being convicted a third time was forced to ride *the wooden . 29 horse” * la Isle of Wight at one term of the county court held fa 1686, only two cases of swearing wore tried# A few years later* during a single term of the county court In Henrico ninety oases were brought up for profane oaths some of these eases were against persons for the third of­ fense*

Th& list of those who were guilty included xmn ot

such prominence in Virginia as William Randolph and Stephen Cocke, which shows that no favoritism was shown to anyone, no matter how influential or powerful* by the -court in its

some gentlemen were making ffmerry” that Hugh Davis, of _ Henrico County,, burned his hat which act m s interpreted as-a token of' contempt against a proclamation recently Is, sued by Meubemnt-Coveraor

Micholson# Davis*

petition la not dated but it was .sometime-•between October 1690 and October 1692*

this petition reads as follows?

nfo the Rt* Hono#ble Francis Hicholson, Esq..* their Matties It* Oovem*r for this Collony of Virginia* Hugh Davis in all humility ahewethi "This Petitioner understands {to his great 29*

Bruee* B* A* Institutional History of Virginia in the Sevcrtesnth 42*

30*

Henrico County Records. 1688-1697, pp* 133-134*

55

dissatisfaction and trouble) , that some persons of a Malitious inclination towards Yofr Honors pet*nfr have utterly misrepre­ sented tm to yofr Honor, Informing yo*r Mon** or yft yo*r pet%fy did lately bum© his hatt In eomtempt as tie rendered), of yofr Honors I'roclaEiation see prudently Issued to aupress & present many riotous & disorderly action too frequently committed in this Country # I .allies bad mere loyalty & obedience to my King & M s Ministers of State, than to be either an actor or promoter of any of­ fense in y ft nature* But 1 humbly beg yofr Honors patience 1 unfold the infallible truth of y*t matter which mine Enemies bare delivered to yo,r Honors Ear with their worst aggravations agft me* Being very privately merry with some Oent# at y© bouse of Cant * Wm. Randolph % some persons reflecting upon the badness of my hath {which I putt on in very bad weath­ er), I sayM i fC»ent*# being you dislike my hatt I will bums this It wear a better** May it please yofr Honor, those words & only those words were all y*t past, with­ out ye least thought of detraction or dis' obedience to yofr Honors Proclamation, the this my hard fate to be see notoriously mis­ represented to yofr Honor & in truth at Y*t time I did not foresee ye severe misconstruc­ tion y*t might probably ensue such an act, the Innocently done by me in maimer as aforesaid: Yet I am well assured y #b yo*r Honor {in yfr great wisdoms* prudence & goodness), will not believe a flying false rumor when see humbly & faithfully informM of ye naked truth* AasSt as 1 never did offend any governor or governmentt In m y life, bob- I hop© I have not de­ served yo#r Honors ffrowxies but y*t yo*r Honor will be graciously pleased to •influence‘.me with yo*r smiles which X endeavor forever to srpress myself to be • Yo#r Honors moat humble & most obedient servM, Hugh Davis # William Randolph was fond of horse racing*

It

was recorded In the Henrico County Court Records that on •«n

.r —

31.

i . nn »»w "

m m -am m m v t m — »■* » .

SV334-335.

m

address the Virginia dignitaries in the customary manner and would take no oaths*

By 10011 the Quakers had he*

com® so hold -and numerous that the Virginia legislators passed an act Intended to stamp out Quakerism* fhis act provided that all persons who absented themselves from the Established Clinch for a period of one month should he fined twenty pounds sterling and those who stayed away a year should pay two hundred and forty pounds# Also* each person presented by the ehurch-wardens for attendance 33 at Quaker meetings was fined two hundred pounds of tobacco* in 1662*63* laws were passed, intend ing to prerent the im* portatlon of Quakers Into Virginia*

A ship master who

brought a Quaker into the Colony was fined fire thousand pounds of tobacco and was required to take him away at his first sailing' and to present his 'proclaiming Ms- *seditious tenets* by keeping him in confinement while he m s in the Colony.

Also any Quaker who attended an assemblage of

meters of M s own sect made up of as many as fine persons* over sixteen years of age* was liable to a fine of two hun* dyed pounds of tobacco for the first offense; fire hundred 34 pounds for the second? and banishment for the third* Humorous examples of how far t he Quakers were wil~ 33*

2H48*

58

ling to go 1b adhering to the tenets of their faith are found in the Henrico bounty Records.

When *Tohn Lead, a

Quaker of Henrico County, died he left a paper dated the ni*©nth day of the Sixth Month 16?9rt which he intended as

a will* He had failed to hare the instrument notarised* the witnesses thereto feeing of the same faith* had re** fused to prore it feyt he usual oath* and his wife would not follow the customary legal formalities so the Justices

had to appoint an administrator.

William Randolph, a .

supporter of the Episcopal Church, was chosen to admimis-* 35 tear and to settle the estate* William Randolph*© dispo­ sition of Fotm lead% property Is giiram in his own words as follows* "Know all men fey these presents that 1 Wm Randolph administrator on the estate of Inc Lead- deeed doe herein (for a. m l u — able consideration in hand reee’d) feargain & sell unto ifea#- Matter M s heirs & assigns all the goods & Chattells belonging to the- .estate of the said, deeedt* specifyed in an inventory & amounting fey estimation to sixteen thousand & seawn pounds of tofeo. & case* he paying the widdow her full pportion* Withessese my hand this 39th day of October 1631*3$ feat H* Da?is .William Randolph” Francis Clearly (Seal) Also* a Quaker refused to prosecute a Hegro who had ravished M s wife*

fhs same Quaker’s daughter* when

called upon to testify in a case in court submitted to 35* Henrico Scanty Records* 1677-92. p* ltd*.

m

imprisonment rather than offend her Quaker conscience hr 3? talcing the oath# In addition to the prominent social, economic and political roles played by the numerous Randolphs in the history of the Colony, they likewise made their eon-* trltinbioiis to the detelopoenb of the spiritual life of the people* Bishop Mead© points out that the connection of so many of the Randolphs, not only with the Episcopal Church, hut the ministry, hoth in England and in America, sprits special eonsl&eratlon*

In theirbehalf he wrote

as follows* "Previous to the Revolution, it is probable that the families of the Ran­ dolphs at Turkey Island* Curls* Carina* Wilton, and Chatt©worth, with a few others In the neighborhood of the old settle­ ment of Sir Thomas Bale* formed the main strength of the Episcopal Church In Hen­ rico, and that the ministers resided at the parsonage on the globe at Carina**58 When William Randolph was about twenty-nine years of age* he m s married to Mary laham*

She was

the daughter of Henry and Catherine Isbam, of Bermuda Hundred p on the opposite side of the cranes -River from Turkey Island#. Her descent ha© been traced from BarId, m 1st * King of Scotland * Their children, arranged In the 37* Henrico County Records, X677-9B, pp* 109, 194* 38*

Meadef Bishop William. S m M S m

M

Old Chureheau .....

89* Iordan, Bavid S. and Sarah L0 Kimball* Tour Tree, p* 185*

m

them, are as fallows; 1«- William Randolph* Ir** b# at Turkey Island* Wmr# 1681, m* 1705, Elisabeth Beverley, daughter of b# at m* 1710, 3.

4*

Randolph* b* at Turkey Island* Dae* 1684* m* 1717 * Jane Rogers, of Shadgat© Street * Lon* don* England* daughter of Charles h* Richard Randolph* b. at Turley Island* Hay* 1686* m » 1714* Ian© Bolling* daughter of 5ohn Boning and Mary Kennon* Randolph* b* pot# 1687* died unmarried* wiried his share of Curias estate,to Richard • * b
folTTT,'^ESdTted byTT*SET' Wll^atneT^TeH* mond, Va*, 1918* Minutes of the Council and General Court of Colonial ^ "ftrHnliT V o S T T e l i ^ ^ ^ * hynT^KT Mcllwaine, Richmond, Va*, 1924* Roval Instructions to British Colonial Governors* 1^0*1776, VoisT i ^ , rEdited hy Leonard ' Woods Labaree, Hew York, D* Appleton«Century Co*, 1935. Stanard, Mary Hewton. Extracts from the Records of Henrico County Vir&itSK&Z "Kicimon&T'VirH8Lnia State 'Library, 1887 * C ^ m L ?A J l X E M t B m i M & X * Compiled by William G. and Mary Hewton Stanard, Albany, Joel Mun* sell*a Sons, 1902• The Secret Diary of William Byrd of Westover. 1709* IBl'Wfted by Louis ff* Wlgtil^and'Marion Tin* ling, Richmond, The Dietz Press, 1941* by Page Co., 1901* Travels and Works of Captain John Smith In two vol­ umes * W i n , Edited "by EdwaWTrber and A* G, Bradley, Edinburgh,Oliver and Boyd, Printers 1910* Tvlerfs Quarterly Historical and Genealogical Mag* azineT'Lfdited by Lyon G* fyler* Virginia Magazine of History and Biography* I3JUAM3 SB& MaSZ So,Uege Quarterly glatori.oal Maas-

78

II.

Secondary Material Andrews,. Charles Iff. The Colonial. Period off; Ameriin ffour volumes * Vol.' XT B e w ~ University Press, 1954. Beatty, Richmond Groom. William Byrd off Westover. Hew York,, Houghton MrWlin"'Co., 1952. Becker, Carl Lotus.* Beginnings off the American People. Cambridge, SouSiton MlWlIS tfo.,1915. Bishop, Cortlandt P. History off Elections in the American OolonieaT1 "!!^"York. Colimbih College, 1893. Bond, Qetavia Sollieeffffer. The Family Chronicle and Kinship .Book.,. Kashville , lfei)an£el Printiing Co., 1928. Brainard, Homer Worthington* A Survey off the Xshams in England and America *.YeriSiSl nitle Publish^ Ing CoTTT^*# 1 US8 . Brock, Robert H., Archibald Gary off Amnthill* Rich­ mond, Garre11 and^Eassie'rKbTisKers,r"l937. Bruce, Philip Alexander. Economic History off Virgin­ ia in the Seventeenth Gentuify in ^two vmTumes . Vols* X3CI, few York, Macmillan Co*, 1907* Bruce, Philip Alexander*, Inst itutional History off volumes * vols. X-IX, Hew Yorlc,Putnamfs Sons, 1910. Bruce,, Philip Alexander.- Social Llffe off Virginia off the Seventeenth COTtt5y!^eco5dEWtlS57T^nchburgyTTrvo^lX'^SorT^l^V* Bruce, Philip Alexander. The Virginia Plutarch in two volumes. Vols. , utopeTlflliyilSSversityoff North Carolina Press, 1929* Burk, lohn* The History off. Virginia From Its Settle­ ment to the Present Bay,in ffour volumes. Vol. II, Petersburg, Va* , Dickson and Pesoud, 1805. Burton, X*. W 0 Apnals off Henrico Parish. Edited by I. Staunton Moore, Richmond, williams Printing Co., 1904.

■Campbell, J * -W., A History off Virginia From Its Dis­ covery till the ^ear 1781* BhiladeloMaTT. w. cSSpbell and M. Carey, Publishers, 1813. Chandler, I* A* C* and T. B* Thames, Colonial Virginla. Richmond, Williams Printing Co., 1907* Crozier, William Armstrong* Virginia Colonial Mili­ tia f Mew York, The Genealogical Association, " 1905* Dictionary off American Biography in twenty volumes.* Vol*x?7 ®Tbednbv"T^ms’^Mlone‘7e*^©wxorE7™™^ Charles Scribner11s Sons, 1935* Dillon* John B* Oddities off Colonial legislation ca * '"'indianapolisj'"' S c ^ K ’'Bougiass7l , I MPub Usher ^§79. du Ballet, Louise Parquet* Seme Prominent Virginia Families.in two volumesT^Tol. 'Yjf’ ,r‘XyjSSSS^xri^T^ Tell Co*, 1907* in six volumes * Tyler, Mew York, Lewis Historical Publishing Co.* 1915 Co., 1897* Plippin, Percy Scott* The Royal Government in Vir1624-17*55, I^ewYorkT”CoIuSbia’ 1 '"C'niversIty ess, 1919* Greene* Everts Boutell.

The Foundations off American

M a tio n a litv * R e v is e d ^ it f c m T ^

Book Co .' "1935 »

Grigsby, Hugh Blair. The Virginia Convention off 1776* Richmond, I. W. Randolph, 1855. Jordan David Starr and Sarah Louise Kimball. Your tedUg -Sri?.9.. Kew York, D. Appleton and Co., 1929* Mason, Frances Morton. (Editor) John Morton & Sons* Merchants off London and England, BichmdM , 5iie Diets Sress, 1937. Meade, Bishop William. Old Churches. Ministers and Families off Virginia,in two volumes* Vols* 'I-II, Philadelphia, J* B. Lippincott and Co., 1861.

80

Biles. Blair*

1930.

The James* Rahway, Quinn and Boden Go*,

Qar Quaker Friends off Ye Olden Times* Edited by James FXtOmoy Pleasant Bell, Lynchburg, J. P. Bell Co.,

1905. Pag®, R, C, M, Ganealc^ of tfcg jtegs Family In ftoginiaf Hew York, Jenkins & Thomas., Printers, 1883* Barton, W. M.■ The Marshall Family. Cincinnati, Robert Clarke & Go*, 1885, Randolph, Robert Xsbam.

The Randolphs off Virginia. ?

Robertson, Wyn&ham* Pocahontas and Her Descendants. Richmond. J. W, Sandolpli and Bn^ffsh,T^biishera and Booksellers, 1887, Scott, Arthur P. Criminal law In Colonial Virginias Chicago, The university off uh¥5ago Wess^jTx&W.* Squires, W® H. T* Through Centuries Three. Ports­ mouth, PrintorartrressTEoTT^'98A* Btanard, Mary Berton. ■Colonial-Virginia. Its People and Customs. FhiladelpEEaJ WoT^^pplncoW^Sor, Stanard, Mary Barton* The Story off Bacants Rebell loft. Hew York, the Heale^Yublishing l$StjnT19Q7.* 1938 Stith, William* The History off the First Discovery and Settlement'off^Iiminla« Wlliamsburg. W. Parke, 1747* \

,_

Swem, E* G* Virginia Historical*Index in two volumes * Vol* II, Roanoke, The Stone Wlntlng and Manffac^ taring Go,, 1937*

The Edward Pleasants Valentine F&ners in three volumes ■ Vols* X ^ S T ^ b l i i t o r W , theVSlentine Museum, Richmond Va#, in. d.)* Tyler,, Dybn Gardiner*, The Cradle off: the RoTniblie: Jamestown and James'''S j ^ ^ '^'Sic&iQnd ,^^he lier-

Sltage1Pres37 TW7> T906.

Wertenbaker* Thomas Jefferson* Virginia* ?: ■varsity Press , 1922 *

The Planters o£

Wertenbaker* Thomas Jefferson* Torchbearer cf the Revolution, Princeton, PrincVton^SlVersxty Press j 1940 * Wllstach, Paal* Tidewater Virginia, Indianapolis, The Bobbs i%riTl^5oT7- 1929*.. Woodson, Henrjr Morton* Historleal Genealogy of the Woodsons and their Ooimeet^^ r ^icor^ieis * .

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